1) Immediate Response
This art piece is titled Gwangju Gazebo created by Michael Hansmeyer. When looking at this piece, I immediately see the small intricate details on each wall of the structure. There is such fine detail in all of it with the structure being metal and the detail looking like wood. At first glance, it appears fairly symmetrical across the walls but a closer look shows there are parts that break that design. Another interesting detail is that half of it is split by a mirror to make it seem larger than it actually is; this can be seen in the first image with the woman standing to the side of the structure.
2) Objective Description
The piece is a structure similar to a shed with an open door at the front and two windows on the side. A mirror is placed such that it splits the windows in half to make the overall structure appear larger and have a back to it. The frame is made of metal while the details on the walls are ornamental, laminated cloth. The walls have a highly intricate pattern but are very small, leaving many holes and gaps. It is large enough for a person to walk into it and stand underneath its roof, however, there is nothing within the structure to interact with.
3) Technical Decisions
The structure is set up in an indoor area with a moderate amount of lighting surrounding the piece. The lighting is enough to highlight the white cloth and show the details while casting shadows on anyone who steps inside. It’s set off to the side of the room so it is up against a mirror wall. The mirror placement is an interesting addition to the piece because it extends the design and actually makes it symmetrical; the cloth design has multiple patterns that may be unique to an area or appear in irregular intervals across the structure.
4) The Work in the World
The piece consists of a metal framing with a cloth draped over it. The intricately cut cloth envelopes the inside of the structure, separating the inside from the outside. It reminds me of a mosquito net set up at doors or windows around a house but this is placed inversely; it is thin and see-through but has a more ornamental design to it. It could also represent architecture in general where instead of 3D structures it is all 2D; it shows a similar level of detail often seen on the outside of Victorian buildings but with a more loose pattern.
5) The Story it Tells
The art piece shows a simple structure with three layers of laminated cloth attached over the frame; the cloth has a complex design cut into it. The design on the cloth was created using the help of computational software to create free patterns that often are confined to symmetry or linearity. The overall meaning I am interpreting from this piece is that architecture can become easier with the use of computers. Architecture can historically be a long, arduous process that takes a great deal of time but this piece shows the level of complexity can still be reached while simplifying the medium.